One of the most difficult things for Christians is keeping the faith. Now I'm not trying to shame anyone, in fact, I know it's not an easy thing to do. I speak from experience having been there myself.
Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Elijah, and John the Baptist, are a few of the people in the Bible who also struggled with their faith. As you can see, if this is where you find yourself now, you're in good company!
Like many of us, they each had their reasons for their moments of doubt, too. Yet in the end, they were able to pull it together and come back even stronger and better than before.
The Bible is really good about giving us guidance when we need it the most. We just have to know where to look. Take prayer for example This is an area that tends to get overlooked until the trials and tribulations of life strike.
Luke 18:1 (KJV) tells us "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" We are to faint not in prayer; that is, never give up, or become discouraged. Prayer doesn't have to occur by appointment only. God is always available to hear from you.
Let's talk about perseverance. This is where life is kicking us while we are down. We're almost at our wits end, and more than ready to call it quits. Our faith meter is showing "low," and our confidence is fading fast.
2 Corinthians 4:1 (KJV) offers help. "We faint not," it says. The apostle Paul is bearing a heavy load trying to defend his ministry to the Corinthians, and spread the Lord's message. It's wearing them down, yet, he and his friends press on; they persevere.
Let's examine one more example: preservation. We are familiar with different demands placed on us at work, school, or even home. We might ask ourselves, "When am I going to have time for me?"
Turning to 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) we are told, "For which cause we faint not;" This is in reference to hope. In other words, faint not in hope. God employs frail and weak vessels (men) to carry his powerful truth.
Despite not exactly being the picture of robust health, Paul was doing the best he could. He was only flesh and bone like the rest of us. Still, he refused to give in. His outward appearance was rough, but he was renewed inwardly daily.
Paul and his fellow workers in Christ surely suffered a lot, but God helped them push through it. That is, He helped preserve or protect them, which enabled them to continue when it would have been easier to quit.
Again, the common theme of these examples is "never giving up" or "not becoming discouraged" which is meant by the word "faint." Although most of us will never go through what Paul did, God can help us "not to faint" just the same.
Scripture: Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Hebrews 12:3; James 1:2; Jude 1:24
Prayer: "Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!" - Psalm 113:1-3 (ESV)
God bless you!
Mary
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